O'Neill, Mitakides Endorse Responsible Plan for Iraq
Submitted by Jerid on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 12:49pm.
While I have disappeared largely this week to finalize BSB 2.0, I couldn't let this one go without notice. This morning I got notice from Jane Mitakides, candidate for Congress in OH-3 that she'd chosen to endorsed the Responsible Plan for Iraq that we spoke about at BSB earlier. Previously last week I emailed all of our congressional candidates about the plan and so far both Mitakides and Bill O'Neill in OH-14 have signed on.
The plan is the most sensible and substantive thing I've seen so far to come out from Democrats on what to do with the Iraq conundrum. It combines a series of policy proposals (largely from the Iraq Study Group suggestions) with bills currently on the floor in Congress for a "big picture" view of what we need to do to both dramatically change our situation over seas, and ensure it doesn't happen again. Mitakides press release outlines some of the specific things it does:
- End U.S. military action in Iraq and transition the responsibility for the future of Iraq to the Iraqi people
- Utilize U.S. diplomatic power to bring stability to the region
- Address the humanitarian concerns facing the country and region
- Restore America’s moral standing in the world
- Strengthen and modernize our military so we are ready to face the changing threats posed to our nation’s security
- Restore transparency and accountability to the executive branch
- End the policy of no-bid contracts that is fraught with fraud and abuse
- Develop a clean energy economy so our nation is no longer dependent on foreign oil and good jobs are created here in the U.S.
Among lots of other things.
Both Bill O'Neill and Jane Mitakides are staking a lot of political capital on endorsing something so policy heavy this early out. As I've said before, everyone in politics generally tells you to stay away from the specific - afterall, it gives your competition fodder to attack you on. Jane and Bill's actions are bold, and they deserve the support of all of us out here in the blogosphere and in the grassroots to reward their actions.
I'll be making small donations to both Bill and Jane later today, I'd encourage you to do so as well to show them we appreciate them putting their limbs on the line.
Also, if you haven't done so already, contact your Congressional Challengers and ask them to consider endorsing the plan. And if you can't drop $5 bucks into the kitty for either of these two candidates, please, please, please, just send them an email and let them know you appreciate their dedication to solving out problem overseas. These folks are taking real action, they really deserve to know we appreciate it.
Email Jane
Email Bill
Because
Submitted by Nick D on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 2:29pm.
real action on Iraq has been stymied by a combination of Bush's veto pen, and Joe Lieberman's threats to caucus with the Republicans if the Dems try and cut off funding for Iraq.
If Lieberman caucuses with the Repubs, we lose our majority.
We need either a Dem in the White House or a stronger majority in the Senate to be able to really do anything about Iraq.
In other words.....
Submitted by Nifty Lawrence on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 3:31pm.
So what you're saying is if McCain or Hillary becomes president, what does it matter if the Dems have come up with plan number 1,836 to get us out of Iraq?
There's a reason the current Congress has an approval rating in the toilet.
And the constant refrain of "this is all Bush's fault" conveniently ignores all the Dem votes in favor of the war itself, the PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act, the appointment of Gonzales & Mukasey as AG, warrantless wiretaps......
Given the Dems track record of voting & their absolute inability to hold a single person accountable for a laundry list of civil liberties & human rights abuses in the past 6 years.....well, I won't hold my breath.
how 'bout a challenge?
Submitted by Mark C. Gaffney on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:34pm.
Challengers are signing this plan, not the current Congressional Dems. Even if your criticisms were valid, they wouldn't apply to these folks, because they haven't been in Congress.
Your argument that Bush is not responsible for federal failures is silly and wouldn't be worth addressing, except that it's clear you're trying to have your cake and eat it, too. You want us to let unpopular Bush off the hook because some Democrats voted on his side (mostly when they were in the minority), but you won't let the unpopular House off the hook, even though they've done great progressive work since Dems took over-- nearly all of it squashed by the weakly Democratic Senate and Bush's veto. Talk about a double-standard.
And in the end, it sounds like you're saying folks like Bill O'Neill aren't serious about this plan. Sounds like you're saying Bill O'Neill doesn't believe in these things, won't fight hard for them, or some how is being dishonest by signing on. Which, in turn, sounds like you don't know Bill O'Neill.
The Democratic challengers have every right to offer their own pledge, and here's to the staying power of good ideas if this one sounds something like the 2006 pledge. With strong majorities and a D White House, I think they'll be up for the challenge.
I Hear What You Are Saying. Now Hear This. Bill Oneill
Submitted by William Michael... on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 10:34pm.
Go to the website www.responsibleplan.com and you will find the most common sense document to date on how to really end this war with honor. Our troops did what we asked them to do, and it is time to come home. The plan starts off with the pronouncement, by none other than General Petraeus, that "There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq." Note the use of words. This plan not only ends our involvement, but it DEMANDS the Congress of the United States avoid further excursions.
We are spending $10-billion a month in Iraq, and that is money that is needed here for jobs, health care and education. America first has to be more than a phrase.
This "responsible plan" is being endorsed by challengers like myself around the nation. I like the term challenger. I didn't start this fight in Iraq. But I will be part of ending it.
Remember, I am a retired Army officer, vietnam veteran, proud father of an Iraq war veteran. This is personal to me. It is time to come home with honor.
Bill Oneill
Democratic Nominee, Ohio-14
why should I believe?
Didn't I hear such promises from the Dems during the mid-term elections in 2006? And what exactly have they accomplished? Zero, of course.
And since the Dems' were more-than-willing accomplices to the start of the war, and remain so in the continuation of it, I'm about done listening to all their hot air.
Talk is cheap.